Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English homepage

Date: 1500-1600
Language: Late Latin
Origin: maniacus, from Greek maniakos, from mania; MANIA

maniac

 noun
     
ma‧ni‧ac [countable]
1 informal someone who behaves in a stupid or dangerous way [= lunatic]:
He drove like a maniac to the hospital.
Suddenly this maniac ran out into the middle of the road.
2

religious/sex maniac

informal someone who you think is too involved or interested in religion or sex [= freak]:
The woman's a sex maniac if you ask me.
3 someone who is mentally ill
homicidal maniac (=one who kills people)
Definition from the Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
Advanced Learner's Dictionary.

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